Friction clutch



April 8 1924.2

A. T. BROWN .T AL

lF'RIGTIQN CLUTCH AFiled Aug. 2, 1919 ,2Q Sheets-Sheet l INI/E ATToRNEn/s ago practically inconsequential.

element 1 and permit the same to move out of engagement therewith, preferably comprise a. plurality of levers 17 spaced apart about the shaft 7 and extending outwardly relatively thereto. The levers 17 are carried by the shell 90 and rotatablewith the driving e'lement and each lever has an arm coasting with the shiftable sleeve 100 and another arm 18 coacting with the pressure or compression ring 4 or suitable engaging surface, as the periphery of a roller 19 carried by said ring, said arm 18 having a cam surface pressing againstthe roller. The rounding or cam surface of the arm 18 engages the periphery of the roller 19 in a straight line passing through the axis -21 and the axis of the roller. Owing to the use of the rollerv 19 and the arrangement of the cam surface o the arm 18 of the lever, wear between the cam surface and the roller is minimized, as when the friction between the cam surface and theroller is so great that the lever tends to bind or bite into the roller, the roller turns about its axis and hence wear on the cam surface or the periphery of the roller is avoided. As the motion of the roller 19 in its own bearin s is comparatively small compared with t e movement of the pe-- riphery of the roller, the wear at the bearings of the roller 19 is minimized and is In clutchesof this type, a heavy springof five hundred pounds more or less is used, and thev pressure thereof is multiplied through the levers so that the pressure amounts to nearly a-ton Where applied to the rollers 19.

ber or' members. v .which coacts with the shiftable sleeve 10Q P'] These rollers constitute engaging-members carried by the'pressure ring independf ently of each other and coactin'g individually with the actuating levers so that ifone or more `of the vengaging members wears faster than the other-or others on account of being of softer material, the clutch will operate through such other engagingmem The arm of the lever 17 extends into a suitable annular groove 20 formed as stated at the inner end of the front section of said sleeve. The levers 17 are shiftable to vary the staiting positions thereof, or to change the relative positions of their pivots 21, and in the embodiment of this invention, shown in Figure 1 said levers are not pivoted directly to the shell 90, but are pivoted to parts, as su sports or carriages 22, which are individual to the levers, are supported independently of cach other by the shell and are revoluble with said shell, these carriages having a slidiner movement.. usually in a direction paralleli to the of the clutch members, in order to carry the pivots 21 of the levers toward and from the shiftable clutch element 2, or the ring 4 and thus lengthen or shorten the distance the clutch element 2 must be ige shaft 7, said slides 22 having their inner ends slotted at 23, the levers extend into the slots 23, and into companion slots 230 formed in the portion of the shell 90 between said guides and the longitudinal axis of the clutch, the Walls of sai slots engaging the sides of the levers and preventi themLfrom moving about the longitudine axes of the slides and the pivots 21 extending transversely through the slots 23.

Preferably the adjustment of allof the le f vers 17 or the supports or carriages 22 thereof is effected by means common to all of them,

in order that all of the levers may receive exactly the same adjustment, this adjust.

ing means being carried by the shell 90 concentric therewith. In the embodiment shown in Figure l saidl adjusting means comprises' a rin 24 arranged in front of the rear end of t e sleeve and threadi on the periphery of therearwardly exten ing hub of the shell 90 and bearing against the rear ends of the supports or carriages 22. The ring is held in its adjusted posi- -vtion b a particularly simple and easily operab.e device, Fig. 4, consisting of a. spring-pressed poppet 25 located in a recess 26, formed in the shell 90, the poppet moving out of the recess in osition to extend into any one of a plura ity of peripheral notches 27, Figure 3 in the ring 24. y

When it is necessary `to adjust they levers to take up wear the poppet 25 is pressed inwardly to release'the ring 24 and the I'ing 24 is turned, and presses against the supports or carriages 22 to slide the same shghtl inwardly and thus change the starting position of the levers 17 and at the same time move the compression ring 4 and friction ate 2 inwardl When it is necessary to loosen the clutch tol give the friction plate more play, the ring 24 is turned in the ppposite direction, after being released from the poppet 25, so that the carriages 22fcan athe action. of the be pressed ontwardiyes'o` plate 2 on the ring 4 through the levers 17 and carriages 22. 'e

The compression ring 4 rotates with the fiv wheel, and, as here shown, it is carried les by the shell 90 by means of a plurality of slidably interlocking parts provided at intervals on the shell 90 and the ring 4. rhese parts being shown in Fig. 1 as studs 28 extending from the sheil 9() into the recess 3 of the fiy wheel parallel to the axis of the clutch, and suitable sockets 30 formed on the rear face of the ring; the ring can thus slide axially on the studs 28, and the rotary -nioveinent of the iiy wheel and the shell 90 fen vpassing' through the axes annesse is transmitted theretotbrough the studs 28,

d to the engine casing,

stood by those skilled in the ait. Said casing is omitted in Fig. 3.

What we claim is: 1. In combination,

stantially as'and 'for the puipose described.

y outer en ends of the levers 2. In combination, a dnvlngiclutch clef ment, a driven clutch element, anhalt carrying the driven clutch element, a pressure he driving clutch element and movable axially of the shaft for fore into operative enoperating levers spaced apart about-th shaft and extending wardly 'relative y thereto and having their 'dspivotedto the drivin clutch element and aces opelements gagement, clutch provided with convex rollers opposed levers carried by thelpressure ring, the' rollers engaing said faces substantially in Vstraight, passing through the axes of said levers and yroilers, and means coacting with the inner or actuating them, substantial-ly as and for the purpose specied.

3. ln combination, a driving clutch elenient, a driven clutch element, a carrysbaft through portions of the exterior surface olea 'part of the driving clutch element, clutch operating leversindividual to the supports and extending outwardly reiatively to the shaft and A pivotally supported by the ends of the supports nearest the pressure ring, said levers cooperating with the pressure-ring, a ring'movable-circumferentially about the periphery of. a part of. the driving clutch element and coactingvvith out- the end faces or" the projecting portions of the supports for movin said supports lengthwise of the axis o the shaft, and means coacting. with the inner ends of the levers for actuating them, substantially as and for the urpcse described.

Il. In com ination, a driving clutch element having a Wall disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the element and provided'yvith a series of spaced apart openings ofV circular cross section extndin thronghisaid Wall substantially. parallel to sal c aX1s,;,and also provided With a series of slots leading from corresponding ends of the openings toward said axis, a driven clutch element, a shaft carrying the driven clutch element, a pressure ring carried b elle drivin clutch element and movable axially of e clutch for eil'ecting operative engagement of the clutch elements, supports of circular cross section mounted in the openings and movable connected to the supports and coacting with the pressure ring, and the Walls of the slots confining the levers from movement axes of the supports, means coactin with the supports for moving them axial y, and means coacting with the inner ends of the levers for actuating them, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In combination', menthprovided with an engagi driven clutch element Vshiftableftosaid engaging face, clutchl operating levers' extending at an angle relatively to the longitudinal axis ofthe clutch elements and having their outer ends movable to shi@ the driven element relatively to said engaging face, supports for said levers, the eupports being carried by the and sbitable in a direction parallel to t ej axis of ,said elements, means shifts lengthwise of said hub and thrusting 'against the outer ends vof said. supports for adjusting them relatively to the driven clutch element, an actuator cooperating with the inner ends of the operating levers for rocking said levers, the actuator being arranged coaxially vv'th the clutch elements being axially slidable throughl the rearlend of the hub, and a spring disposed' Within the' hub and around posed -betvveen the abutment and the actuator, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

6. ln combination, a driving clutch element provided Withvan internal cavity and with a, rearwardly extending hol-low hub having a .spring abutment Within .its rear end,

abOllt the driving element lim the aetuatorand interv a driven clutch element arranged With'- 35@ in the cavity, a shaft carrying the driven clutch element, a pressureY ring carried by the driving clutch element and Shiite/ble axially of the shaft, for eil'eCt-ing operative engagement of the clutch elements, clutch operzitingigA levers extending et an angle relatively to the Shaft :1nd having their outer ends eoaeting with the pressure ring for operating seid ring, supports individuel to the levers undearried independently or" each other by the driving clutch element, said supports being movable in a direction parallel to the axis ot the shaft through portions oi the exterior surface ot' the driving element, a" ring movable eireumferentially about the periphery of the hub at the rear of the supports and coacting with the projecting ends of the supports for moving the levers relatively to the pressure ring*7 an actuator cooperating with the inner ends Aof the operating leversI `tor rocking said levers, the actuator being arranged coaxinlly with the clutch elements and being anielly slidable through 'the ree-r end oit the hub at, the rear or the ringe and e spring die4 posed within the hub and around the actuator and interposed between the abutment and the actuator, substantially as and 'for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto signed our names, at Syracuse, in 'the County ot' Onondaga. and State of New Yorka this 25th day of July, 1919.

ALEiiiNDER T. BROVVN. GEORGE C. CARHART. 

